Magnesium anode primary cell



Sept. 2, 1958 R, c, KlRK ETAL MAGNESIUM ANoDE PRIMARY CELL Filed Aug. 8, 1955 INVENToRs. Roy C. Kirk Raymond W Re fo TTORNEYS l ite' 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved primary cell of the dry or nonspillable type, and particularly to dry cells in which the anode material is magnesium.

Dry cell formulations employing magnesium as the anode material are disclosed in a paper by R. C. Kirk and A. B. Fry, Magnesium dry cells, published in the Journal of the Electro-chemical Society, vol. 94, No. 6, pages 277 to 239, inclusive.

In making up magnesium primary cells, as mentioned in U. S. Patent No. 2,616,940, the usual procedure is to form the anode material into a cup or battery can which constitutes oneof the electrodes of the cell as Well as the container holding the cathode elements and the electrolyte. The cathode mix consists of manganese dioxide having intimately mixed with it usually between about 5 and percent of finely divided carbon, such as acetylene black, by weight. The mixture is moistened with enough electrolyte to make it moldable and the moldable mixture is formed into bobbins around a central electrode in the form of a rod of carbon or graphite. These bobbins are usually cylindrical moldings somewhat smaller than the battery can and are inserted into the cans after the cans are ined with starch paste or gelled electrolyte or a porousnonconductor, such as cloth or paper, to keep the bobbin from touching the can. In some instances the cathode mix is introduced into the lined cans without previously forming the cathode mix into a bobbin, the molding taking place in the lined can. In such instances, after placing the cathode mix in the can, the carbon or graphite rod is pushed centrally into the cathode mix as the other electrode.

Similar dry cell formulations are disclosed in U. S. Patent 2,547,907 and 2,547,988. U. S. Patent 2,616,940 discloses that in the cells lia-:Jing the foregoing formulations the can or lining may be dispensed with and the cathode mix may be placed directly against the inside of the can or cup in assembling the cell elements.

Dry cells formulated as above described (with or without lining the can) are usually sealed at the top. Sealing is accomplished by placing a cardboard or similar porous dielectric washer in the top of the can over the end of the carbon rod a. short distance above the cathode mix. Then a layer of sealing compound, such as a rosinbase sealing wax, coal tar or asphalt pitch, is poured over the washer so as to fill the annular space at the top of the can above the washer.

Vi/hile dry cells made in the above described manner give excellent performance, they are not of the so-called leak proof variety which are in wide demand as dashlight batteries. Also the use of a magnesium cup anode is 11n-economical from the standpoint of the bobbin size and amount of electrolyte contained in the cell. That is, because the anode cup Walls are heavy enough to permit the anode to be the container of the cell, an un-balance of materials exists because the can or cup anode of the flashlight cell cannot hold enough cathode mix and electrolyte to completely consume a cup-shaped extruded anode during the useful life of the cell.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved dry cell of the so-called leak-proof variety which has a long useful life, high output voltage and atent O Mice eiciency, and is economical to manufacture. In accordance with this invention, there is provided a primary cell comprising a steel cup or container having a tubularshaped magnesium anode therein. The anode is in direct contact with and is Welded to the steel can. A cathode electrode, insulated from the steel can, is centrally disposed within the cell. Cathode mix and electrolyte fill the space between the cathode electrode and the anode. The cathode mix, however, is separated physically from direct contact with the anode by a porous non-conducting layer.

The invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a primary cell made in accordance with this invention, and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale and in section, of the lower part of the cell shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a primary cell, indicated generally by the numeral lll, comprising a cathode electrode l2, cathode mix i4 including electrolyte, and a tubular shaped magnesium anode 16 encased in a steel can 3.8 which conveniently may be a drawn steel can. The anode lo is in direct contact with the can l and is welded to the can, as at 2li, in at least one place.

The bottom of the can ld is coated with an insulating material 22, such as grease, oil, or lacquer. The cathode mix 14 is contained in a paper separator bag 24 which lits within the anode le and rests on the insulating material at the bottom of the can l. The cathode electrode 12, which is a carbon or graphite rod within the bag 24, is axially disposed with respect to the can 1d. The lower end of the electrode rod l2 lies against the bottom of the paper bag la, and is insulated from the bottom 26 of the can or cup 1S by the bag 24, and the coating 22 4of grease, oil, or lacquer.

The top 2S ofthe cathode terminal electrode l2 extends above the top of the steel can 1S and is held in position by a somewhat ha -shaped cover plate 3d whose periphery or brim 32 extends to and is insulated from the turned in upper end 34 of the steel can l. Insulation between the can lia and cover plate Si is provided by a paper ring or annulus 36 which separates the two parts.

The magnesium anode ld extends about 2/3 of the length of the steel can i8.

The cathode mix 14 extends between the carbon rod l2 and the anode le. The mix 154 is in direct Contact with the carbon rod l2, but is separated from direct contact with the anode le by the paper bag 24 in which the mix is contained. The cathode mix le extends to or near to the top 3d of the anode le, and the upper wall 4l) of the paper separation bag 24 is turned in towards the carbon rod l2 to help prevent the spilling of cathode mix 14 directly onto the anode lo.

A tar seal 42 is provided between the carbon rod l2 and the steel cup 18. An apertured paper washer 44 is fitted between the carbon rod 12 and the can l@ to provide the base on which the tar seal 42 is poured. A paper tab 46 extending upwardly from the washer 44 through/the tar seal 42 lprovides the means by which gas generated within the cell lli while current is drawn therefrom is vented to the upper portion of the cell which is not sealed in a gas tight manner. Alternatively,

' a porous carbon rod l2 may be used to vent gases from the cell. In such cases the cover plate d@ usually contains a small aperture adjacent to the rod l2. The volume between the top of the anode 1.6 and the seal 42 is customarily provided because gases may be generated within the cell at a faster rate than they may be vented. through the tab 46. The additional space between the tar seal 42 and the cover plate 3:0 is provided in order that a"specific'cell dimension 'may be maintainedfei'g,

a vstandard length ashlight cell as'established for-zinc` anodetypefcellS-iV In order that ltwo Vor, more of the cells; 10` will; not short out when Yconnected in series in a 'metalcasedashf light,an insulating plastic coating 48 is providedfon'ther side walls and part of the ends of the can 18. It should be emphasized that the insulating coating may be dis.- pensed with if thev cells are to be usedin parallel or even if connectedl in series if the cells are usedinan electri cally non-conductive container. Formulations of suitable electrolytes and dry' mixes for dry' cells having magnesium for the anode material are disclosed in the aforementioned U.V S. Patentsv 2,547,907, 2,547,908, 2,606,940, and paper by Kirk and Fry.

The anode 16 in a specic cell made in accordanceV with this invention is composed of AZ31A alloy sheetofV .030 wall thickness rolled to form a cylinder 1.25 inches in diameter and 1.5 inches high. In addition to magnesium,1AZ3lA alloy contains nominally 3 percent aluminum, l percent zinc and about .l5 percent calcium.V

The anode cylinder 16 ts closely within the drawn'steelcan 18 with the bottom edge 50 of thel anode 16 at or near to thebottom 26 ofthe can 18. Although the anode 16 lits closely within the steel can or cup,v a fricf tion lit connection between the anode 16 and the cup 18 is not relied upon to provide alow resistance contact between the two parts. The anode 16 is preferably welded (Spot welded, for example) to the can 18 at least at one point, the location of the weld 20 being about midway between the ends of the anode 16'.` Usually 3 welds, spaced approximately symmetrically around theV anode 16, Vare used. The edges of the anode sheet which are in juxtaposition with each other are usually separatedl by .005 inch'orless in order to prevent an excessive amount of electrolyte from passing between the'juxta-i posed edges (shown as the dotted line V52 in Fig; l) and being dispersed between the anode 16 and the cuplS.

If the spacing between the juxtaposed edges exceeds about .005 inch it is usually advisable to apply across the edges 52 a tape which restricts the ow of electrolyte: therethrough. Cellophane tape, polyethyleneV tape and friction tape are examplesV of suitable tapes off'botli porous and non porous types. l

lt has been found that the weld area of theanode16 is apparently cathodic with respect to the remainder. ofk

the anode 16 and thus is cathodically protected by the remainder of the anode. Good electricalcontact is thus maintained between the anode and the steel cup until said cupLaV carbon cathode disposed in the cup withone end projecting outwardly of the cup beyond the rim, said cathode being electrically insulated from said cup, a cathode depolarizing mixture comprising manganese dioxide and carbon black moistened with anaqueous electrolyte, .thesaid mixture being'interposed .between the inside of Vthecupv and the carbon cathode below the rim of the' cup, a ngas impermeable seal,Y said seal extending between the'carbon cathode and said steelcup above said anode, and means for venting'gases generated within said cell dnringits operation. Y

2. A primary cell comprising a one piece steel cup which is a terminal electrode of said cell, a hollow cylinthe anode is substantially completely consumed. Fu'r- Y ther, the magnesium anode cathodically protects the sides of the steelV can from corrosion and possible puncturing by the electrolytic action. As previously mentioned, the bottom 26 of the steel can 18, which serves asV the anode terminal electrode, is protected from corrosion due to electrolytic action by a coating of oil, grease orY lacquer which extends 'over Vthe bottom (inside) of the can 18. The bottom of the paper bag containing the cathode mix, electrolyte, and carbon rod supplements the Vgrease orroil coating in preventing electrical contact between the carbon rod and the steel cup.

Thus primary cells made in accordance with this invention Vare leak proof, make eicient use of. the anode material to provide along useful life, and are economical to manufacture. l

We claim:

1. A primary cell comprising a one piece'V steel-cup* which is a terminal electrode of said cell, a hollowicylin-Y drically` shaped magnesium anode, said anode being tele'-Y scoped within and in close tting relationshipwith'rre'-` spectl tofsaid cup, said.. anode being directly welded'toK drically shaped magnesium anode, said anode being `teilescoped within and in close iittingY relationship Vwith ref spect to said cup,'said anode having a weldedfconnection to said cup, a carbon cathode! disposed in the cup with one end projecting outwardlyof the cup 'beyond the. rim, said cathode being electrically insulated from said cup, a; cathode depolarizing mixture comprising manganese dioxide vandcarborr black moistened with an aqueous electrolyte, the said mixture being interposed between the insidev of the cup and the carbon cathode below the rim of theL cup, a washer of porous dielectric material en circling the carbon cathode and above the depolarizing mixture, the outer periphery of the washer being against the inside of the cup and the inner periphery against the" carbon cathode, the said washer having a tab formed integrally 'therewith and projecting upwardly, and a mold-V able sealing compound molded in situ upon the outsideV of the washer forming a top sealfor the cellb'etween`r the sides of the carbon electrode and cup and encircling` the said tab, said tab projecting Vthrough the sealing compound and forming a gas permeable passageway through-v the sealing compound for venting the hydrogen generated inthe cell. n j 3. A'primary cell comprising a drawn steel cup whichV is a terminal electrode of said cell, a cylindrically shaped magnesium anode made of sheet stock, said anode beingY telescoped. within and in close 4iitting relationship withY respect to said cup, said Vanode having a welded connes-g tion to said cup,` a carbon cathode disposed inthe cupV with one Vend projecting outwardly ofthe cup beyond the rim,. said cathode beingjelectrically insulated fromV said cup, a cathodeV depolarizing mixture comprising manganesefdioxide and carbon black moistened with an aqueus electrolyte, the said mixture being interposed between the inside of the cup and the carbon cathode belowY the rim of the cup, a washer of porous dielectric materialencircling theY carbon cathode above the cathode Adepolarizing mixture, the outer periphery of the washer being against the inside of the cup and the'inner periphery against the carbon cathode, the said Washer having a tab'formed integrally therewith and projecting upwardly,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNrrED STATES PATENTS 905,952 Szek Dec. 8,V 1908Y 1,352,834 YRuholf Sept. 14,1920 2,198,423 Anthony Apr.y 23, '1940'. Y2,399,089 Anthony., Apr. 23, 1946 2,474,716 Beechlyn lune 28, 1949 2,490,598 Oliver Y 'Dec..6, 1949 2,697,738"

Glesner" Dec. 21, V1954 

1. A PRIMARY CELL COMPRISING A ONE PIECE STEEL CUP WHICH IS A TERMINAL ELECTRODE OF SAID CELL, A HOLLOW CYLIN DRICALLY SHAPED MAGNESIUM ANODE, SAID ANODE BEING TELESCOPED WITHIN AND IN CLOSE FITTING RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO SAID CUP, SAID ANODE BEING DIRECTLY WELDED TO SAID CUP, A CARBON CATHODE DISPOSEDIN THE CUP WITH ONE END PROJECTING OUTWARDLY OF THE CUP BEYOND THE RIM, SAID CATHODE BEING ELECTRICALLY MIXTURE COMPRISING MANGANESE DICATHODE DEPOLARIZING MIXTURE COMPRISING MANGANESE DIOXIDE AND CARBON BLACK MOISTENED WITH AN AQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE, THE SAID MIXTURE BEING INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE INSIDE OF THE CUP AND THE CARBON CATHODE BELOW THE RIM OF THE CUP, A GAS IMPERMEABLE SEAL, SAID SEAL EXTENDING BETWEEN THE CARBON CATHODE AND SAID STEEL CUP ABOVE SAID ANODE, AND MEANS FOR VENTING GASES GENERATED WITHIN SAID CELL DURING ITS OPERATION. 